JeremyS

But the surveys are looking: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.17977

Or: You don’t own a Tak, it owns you 🤔

I see what you did there Dave 🤣

Nice comparison and write-up 👍🏻

M210 putting up spectacular images again @Fedele 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

What? Last one??? Nice way to end tho 👍🏻

Indeed: it’s a little wonder 👍🏻

Nah, you need a 3-inch eyepiece it seems

Tho this storm has some astronomical significance being named after Dame Jocelyn Bell Burrell, discoverer of pulsars 👍🏻

And for visual, which I think was Ags main focus, the XLT is fine

I too spoke to my insurance broker and got astro kit included in the home insurance. Larger value items needed to be listed. It wasn’t that much more on the premium.

Ingenious 👍🏻

What a super trip @Nicola Fletcher. So glad you were able to take your Tak 76DCU. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

If I can locate my var polarising filter I can certainly try, Michael. Thanks.

The M210 is indeed a planet killer. Superb views of Jupiter. But I have still not acclimated to the diffraction spikes. I still find them distracting.

That is a very interesting analysis, John. The Tak advantage is marginal, but if one seeks as close to perfection as is possible, then they do generally offer that. I wish I had realised this a few decades ago. Regarding the Tak 100 vs C9.25 comparison, I join you in being a bit surprised by the claims you cite. I have an FC 100DZ and an FS 102, they are generally outperformed (visually) by my C9.25 in terms of Jupiter detail by quite a margin. The latter is a very fine instrument, without the diffraction spikes of my Mewlon 210, but it doesn’t have the “snap” focus of the smaller refractors.

Details from the BAA here: https://britastro.org/forums/topic/2024-bx1-small-neo-impact-last-night

Marvellous 👍🏻

Not sure if you realise it, but your image shows Nova Cas 2021 (V1405 Cas). I have marked it on your image:

New mount Malcolm?

Watch out for the diffraction spikes on bright stars and planets. I’ve still not got used to them with my Mewlon. I find them distracting

Sparkle in star clusters is the realm of refractors, not SCTs (or CC for that matter)

Impressive, Stu? Have you had a chance to compare at 3mm? Eg with your NZ 3-6? I had the impression it might lose a little at that end. But I have been amazed at what Ive experienced so far

Can you draw us a map, Alan? Struggling to keep up 🤣

If it’s stressy it’s not worth doing in my book But I do know what you mean. I sometimes put myself under pressure before a session. In that case I have to have a strong word with myself.